Poultry crate or coop.



No. 877,393. ,PATENTBD JAN. 21, 1908.

T. BALL. POULTRY CRATE OB. C(JOP.

APPLI OATION FILED JU LY Q, 1906.

M/Mmsses: 2| 5 /iliazme ys.

4 1n: NORRIS PETERS co, WASHINCION, n. c.

THOMAS BALL, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

POULTRY CRATE OR COOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 9. 1906- Serial No. 825327.

Patented Jan. 21, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS BALL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New Castle, in the county of -Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Poultry Crates or Coops, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accom anying drawing.

This invention re ates to wooden receptacles, and the invention relates more particularly to certain new and useful improvements in poultry crates and coops.

The inventionhas for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive crate, which can be knocked down and folded in a neat and compact form, to facilitate shipping, handling and storing.

Another object of this invention is to rovide a crate or coop particularly designe for display purposes.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be presently described in detail and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing forming part of this specification, like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved crate, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, illustrating one of the side frames partly folded inwardly, Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing \the crate as partially folded, Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the crate in a set up condition, and Fi 5 is an elevation of the crate in a knock own condition.

My improved crate or coop comprises a bottom p ate 1, an auxiliary front wall, auxiliary side walls 3, and an auxiliary rear wall 4, these walls supporting suitable frames and a top cover adapted to fold inwardly upon the plate 1 and form a compact package or bundle.

The inner sides of the auxiliary walls are cut away or grooved as at 5 and extending into said grooves are vertically disposed clips 6, said clips being secured in the bottom plate 1, by nuts 7 threaded upon their lower ends. The nuts are protected and shielded by strips 8 secured upon the bottom edges of the plate 1, these strips being recessed to house the nuts 7.

Hinged to the clips 6 are side frames 9 and 10, a front frame 11 and a rear frame 12. The lower edges of said frames are provided with depending sta les 14which engage the upper ends of the c ips 6, and permit of the frames being folded inwardly one u on the other. The side frame 9 is'provide with a woven wire fabric 15 and its upper and lower edges with hand straps or gri s 16 which permit of the frame 9 being easi y manipulated. The side frame 10 is provided with a piece of fabric 17 and with hand grips or straps 18.

The rear frame 12 is similarly constructed,

with the exce tion that the hand straps are dispensed with.

The front frame 11 is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed bars or rods 19, the centralmost bars or rods 20 bein slidably mounted in the top rail 21 of said ame.

The lower ends of bars or rods 20 are mounted in a transversely disposed slide bar 22 mounted upon'two of the rods or bars 19. The rods or bars 20 serve as a door for the coop or crate and they are locked in a closed position by a hook 23, carried by the bar 22 and engaging a pin 24, carried by the lower rail 25 of the front frame 11.

The top. rail 26 of the rear frame 12 and the top rail 21 of the front frame 11 are connected together by a piece of fabric or flexible material 27, which serves as a cover or top for the crate or coop.

To maintain the side frames in a set-u form or vertical osition, I provide the vertlcal edges of the ames 11 and 12 with hooks 28 adapted to engage over pins 27 carried by In order that the crate or 000 can be easily cleaned while being used, provide the front auxiliary wall 2 witha hinged lid or gate 31, said lid or gate being maintained in a closed position by a hook and pin 32.

By referring to Fig. 5, it will be observed that the crate or coop when folded forms a neat and compact bundle, which permits of a plurality of crates or coops being stored away, whereby they will occupy a comparatively small s ace. This feature ofmy invention is 0 great advantage when. the crates or coops are being returned, after having reached a certain. destination,; and arev packed in a freight or express car.

Such changes in the slze, and+mino1-.' details of construction, as are permissible by' theclaim, may be, resorted! to: without, de-

. parting fromthe spiritandrscope. of: the im vention;

What lzclaim and; desire, to; secure: by Letters Patentgis 1-- c A knockdown crate'on coop comprising a;

bottom. plate, auxiliary: front rear andv side Walls mounted: upon, saidv plate, said auxil+ iaryfront wal-li having an opening, each; of said: wallsxharvingz uponz theinnenf'ace thereof av plurality of vertlcally extendlnggrooves,

- sidev front and rear:- frames mounted upon each: ofi'said walls, means extending through the grooves, and, bottom. plate and: connected to said frame for hinging the latter to the walls and for connecting the Walls to the plate, a stripof fabric of a width equal to the .widthrof and connected at its ends to the front and rear frames, said strip of fabric constituting, the top for the crate, when the front and rear frames are in an upright position, a fabric attached to certain of said frames, vertically-extendingrods carried by the other of said'frames, certain of said rods being vertically adjustable to form an entrance opening for the crate, means for main- THOMAS BALL.

Witnesses:v

CHAs. V; WALL-s, S. W. LEWIs; 

